Is the verification code for box 9 on form W-2 required to be entered for each client W-2?

[IRonMaN · Accepted solution]

Per the IRS:

"Taxpayers and tax professionals are urged to enter the verification code when prompted by software, as it can speed the processing of the return and the issuance of the refund. However, omitted and incorrect verification codes will not delay the processing of a tax return."

[George4Tacks]

i.e. It is a really good idea to do it and it doesn't take that much time, so WHY NOT?

[IRonMaN]

Good point and my way of thinking George, but I'm guessing someone is going to come up with the argument that they have 3000 W-2s with that on there and it takes them 8 seconds per W-2 so they are going to be spending an additional 24,000 seconds in the office this year if they do.

[Just-Lisa-Now-]

I tried entering them that first year they started it...I had trouble telling a zero from a letter O and constantly kept getting the dreaded red error on the entry.   Looks like this year theyre using lowercase letters on one that I saw with the code, so that should make it easier to read.

[George4Tacks]

"The only valid characters are the letters A-F and the numerals 0-9." So there should be no 0Oo confusion. Also I noted the the letters can all be entered with the left hand, while the right hand does the digits. Easy Peasy!!
https://www.irs.gov/individuals/w-2-verification-code

[rsb]

where is the verification code inputted?

[IRonMaN]

You don't say which software, but it is on the W-2 worksheet in ProSeries - you just have to look for it carefully.

[rbynaker]

This thread is obsolete.  The program was cancelled for 2019.

[IRonMaN]

I only had one or two clients that ever had it so I wouldn't have even caught that expiration date 😁

[rsb]

OH OKAY THX.